INTRODUCTION. 25 



changes are brought about, not only in the dog, but in 

 all our domestic animals also. It has been already 

 remarked, that the universal and inherent aptitude to 

 retain the original stamp of nature appears to become 

 weakened when animals are subjected to confinement 

 and a life of art. Numerous deviations in size, form, 

 and qualities, seem the necessary consequence of the 

 physical and moral agencies which they become ex- 

 posed to under these circumstances ; and the range of 

 these deviations appears proportioned to the degree of 

 confinement and restraint imposed on them. The cat, 

 who is still predatory, and dependent, in a great degree, 

 on her own exertions for support, differs but little in 

 size and form from the original, and presents but few 

 varieties. The dog, on the contrary, who is wholly 

 subjugated, and whose life may be considered as pure- 

 ly artificial, afibrds Variations the most numerous and 

 extensive, in size, form, and general character. These 

 varieties present themselves to us in dissimilitudes so 

 great, in successions so endless, and in combinations 

 so extraordinary, as to appear rather a sportive or 

 capricious operation of nature, than the consequences of 

 fixed and established laws. An original and determi- 

 nable form is lost in boundless variety : nothing re- 

 mains permanent but the anatomical arrangement of the 

 internal organs, which appears always the same. 



With scions so infinitely varied, it is evident that it 

 becomes difficult to form, altogether, a conclusive opi- 

 nion relative to the size, form, and character, of the 

 original root from whence they sprang ; but by the aids 

 of analogy and probability, and more particularly by 

 an observance of such wild dogs as are still met with, 

 and appear never to have been reclaimed, we are 

 enabled to approach near the truth. All such native 

 wild dogs as have fallen under the notice of travellers 



C 



